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Unlike the NFL, NCAA basketball, World Cup, and NASCAR, I've never done any hockey analytics before. But that won't stop me from posting an ad hoc series on my favorite team, the Vegas Golden Knights.
I'm 5-0 all-time on bets involving my Golden Knights as tracked in the Action App, so let's see if we can push it to 6-0 with a player prop bet tonight as Vegas takes on the Calgary Flames.
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Dr. Nick's Vegas Golden Knights Best Bet
Ivan Barbashev has gotten off to a slow start in 2026, with just four assists and no goals in eight games, but that's likely some small sample-size noise after just eight games.
Looking at the bigger picture, he's still averaging 16:09 time on ice, which follows up seasons of 16:48 and 16:15, so he's right in line with his longer-term sample as a Golden Knight.
Additionally, over the past two seasons, Barbashev has been quite consistent, generating a goal on 17-20% of his shots and averaging 0.73-0.74 points per game in each season. Since he's currently sitting at 0% goal% and 0.5 points per game, we're certainly getting a discount if we assume he returns even close to his past rates.
Tonight, he gets a fantastic matchup against the Calgary Flames, who have been amongst the leakiest teams in the NHL in terms of goals allowed per game, and rank 22nd in expected goals against.
Enter Barbashev, who put up six points in three games against the Flames last year, including games of three and two points on home ice.
Flames netminder Dustin Wolf so far this season has allowed 16 of 18 goals to come from forwards. Additionally, he's been an easy target for opposing teams, with a -7.0 GSAx.
That bodes well for Barbashev, who was recently slotted on the top line with Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, after the injury to Victor Olofsson.
With Barbashev playing on the top line and the second power play unit, there will be plenty of chances for him to score. Wolf has been abhorrent this season under pressure, with a .400 SV% against high-danger chances, and has let in a decent amount of rebounds.
Keep in mind as well, Barbashev likes to play down low around the net. With Wolf's inconsistencies this season, that's the perfect recipe for scoring chances.
I like him to record 1+ points to at least -125.
Dr. Nick's VGK Whisper: Ivan Barbashev to Record 1+ Points (-110 at Bet365).
